So get off your bloody high horse for a moment and realise that not everyone is as perfect as you.

And for your information, you may have not noticed this already with your head being jammed so far up your arse, I’m Australian. Note the above non-bastardised spelling of “realise”. But yes, not all of Australia is “the outback”.

Now I’m a 3rd generation survivor with this set of health problems. Asthma, Peanut allergy, Atopic dermintitise (SP). It must be totally different to have a 1st gen kid.

My friends and family get the rules. I’ve never had a reaction from family prepared food, we have walked out of restaurants that swore they didn’t use peanut oil because I could smell it. My family knew to trust my gut – if I objected to a food or called it itchy – I did not eat it.

I refuse to allow my medical conditions to rule my life. Just this Friday a co-worker tried to tell me I couldn’t go to a baseball game because of the peanuts other people would be eating. I go to games. I wear closed toed shoes (rare, I usually were sandals because of the skin stuff), long pants and take a way oversized jacket. 40 some years of attending games. Season passes to UH football as a kid – I’ve had a problem 1 time.

Some punks were throwing peanut shells down on our section. Dad told them to stop – and why. They said , Who’s going to make us old man. Every adult in “our section” of the stood up and turned around. The staff at the dome hustled those kids out and called the parents (who had the season tickets) to pick them up.

The first word I was taught to read was peanut. I’ve been reading labels since I was 5 (adults aways double checked). I’ve been able to give a complete medical history for me and my Sis since I was about the same age.

When I was a kid, they didn’t have to list the oils on the packaging. It just had to say vegetable oil. That landed me in the ER many times. I can remember triage nurses bug eyed at this weird accented grade school kid (mix of East/Houston Texas, PEI, and Texas German) rattling off this long medical terms. Now my parents were there to back me up – but the first time I had to go without them. I knew what to do and kept my University friends calm.

BTW – closest I have come to dying was from bed sheets. I was house sitting and had a massive reaction to the laundry detergent.

To the people joking that people with peanut allergies *should* die, that’s just pathetic. I’ll also say that peanut allergies are becoming very common, so it’s probably just a matter of time before you find that someone you know (maybe your own child) has one.

I don’t expect my family to eliminate peanut products from their lives. It would be very difficult to do. Look at packaging – you won’t believe how many food items have peanut products. Then there are things that don’t have allergy warnings – like fabric softener but contain peanut proteins.

We have basic safety rules in the family. When Sis and Cousin got married – both their husbands were very puzzled by some of their habits. Like wrapping peanut butter jars in a plastic bag before putting it in the trash.

My Niece and her young cousin (3 & 4 yo) are allowed to have peanut products around me – if there is another family member over say 12 around. The other family member can help the little ones wash their hands after they finish their snack.

When I’m the only responsible person watching them, they can’t have peanut products. You would think they would pitch fits, because they are so young. They don’t – the rule as been around since they started eating solids the kids just accept it.

A sealed can unpacked from a backpack – isn’t that much of a danger. I’m assuming the young lady grew up with mom being peanut allergic – she gets it and wouldn’t endanger her mom.

For some perspective – I will press criminal charges of poisoning and attempted murder if someone lies to me and gives me food with peanut products in it. As a teen – had several people try to prove to me that it was all in my head. Once I made it clear that I would press charges – these attempts stopped.

i dare anyone here to beat that…

That said my family has eaten peanut products around me all my life. As long as they are old enough to dispose of the trash and wash their hands on their own, I don’t have a problem with it.

When you grow up with this allergy in the family, you pick up certain habits. My sister and cousins wrap anything containing peanuts in a plastic bag before putting it in an indoor trash can, or they put in the outdoor trash can. I seriously doubt the mother was in any danger. she way over reacted.

The Mom way over reacted.

Signed,
Joining Team Eat in the Yard, You Jet-setting Whore!